Printable Features Formed from Multiple Inks and Processes for Making Them

Abstract

A process for forming a reflective feature includes the steps of (a) providing a substrate having a first surface; (b) forming a first coating on the first surface, the first coating having a second surface; and (c) forming a reflective element on the second surface, the reflective element having a third surface and comprising nanoparticles

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for forming a reflective feature, the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a substrate having a first surface;   (b) forming a first coating on the first surface, the first coating having a second surface; and   (c) forming a reflective element on the second surface, the reflective element having a third surface and comprising nanoparticles.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises two regions having different surface characteristics, and the first coating covers at least a portion of both regions. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the reflective element covers at least a portion of the two regions. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises depositing a first ink onto the first surface and treating the deposited first ink under conditions effective to form the first coating. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the depositing comprises direct write printing the first ink onto the first surface. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the treating comprises heating the deposited first ink. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein the treating comprises applying UV radiation to the deposited first ink. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) comprises depositing a second ink onto the second surface and treating the deposited second ink under conditions effective to form the reflective element. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the depositing comprises direct write printing the second ink onto the second surface. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the treating comprises heating the deposited second ink. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the treating comprises applying UV radiation to the deposited second ink. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the first coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a varnish, an offset varnish, a dry offset varnish, a shellac, latex, and a polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , the process further comprising the step of:
 (d) forming a second coating on the third surface, the second coating having a fourth surface.   
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the second coating is transparent. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the second coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a varnish, an offset varnish, a dry offset varnish, a shellac, latex, and a polymer. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise phosphorescent nanoparticles. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise metallic nanoparticles. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein a majority of the metallic nanoparticles are necked with at least one adjacent metallic nanoparticle. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, zinc, tin, copper, platinum and palladium, and alloys thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles have an average particle size of less than about 200 nm. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the metallic nanoparticles have an average particle size of from about 50 nm to about 100 nm. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective element comprises a reflective layer that is at least partially semitransparent. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective element comprises a continuous reflective layer. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective element comprises a non-continuous reflective layer. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective feature is more reflective than it would be in the absence of the first coating. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first surface or the second surface has an image disposed thereon, wherein at least a portion of the image is viewable through the reflective element when viewed at a first angle relative to the third surface, and wherein the at least a portion of the image is at least partially obscured when viewed from a second angle relative to the third surface. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein the second angle is about 180° minus the angle of incident light, relative to the third surface. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein the image is formed from a printing process selected from the group consisting of direct write printing, intaglio printing, gravure printing, lithographic printing and flexographic printing processes. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 26 , wherein the image is selected from the group consisting of a hologram, a black and white image, a color image, a watermark, a UV fluorescent image, text and a serial number. 
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective element comprises a plurality of reflective images. 
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the reflective element comprises a plurality of reflective microimages, wherein the plurality of reflective microimages has an average largest dimension of less than about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein at least one microimage comprises variable data.